Police on the scene of a stabbing incident at Save On Foods parking lot.Chilliwack Times / Greg Laychak

A 63-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after a fatal stabbing Tuesday afternoon in downtown Chilliwack.

A 63-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after a fatal stabbing Tuesday afternoon in downtown Chilliwack.

Gerald Leslie Dolman was arrested by police at Salish Plaza, the scene of the stabbing, and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said charges have been approved.

Police tape still blocked off the western portion of the parking lot and a stretch of Yale Road on Wednesday afternoon as IHIT continued its investigation.

It was at approximately 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when Mounties were called to the parking lot after receiving a report of a stabbing. The male victim was treated by emergency personnel but succumbed to his injuries.

Witness said the incident leading up to the stabbing started with what appeared to be Dolman’s vehicle following the victim’s car on Yale Road. Witnesses said Dolman struck a cyclist while following the unnamed victim. The cars then collided at the south entrance to the Save-On-Foods on Yale Road.

A verbal altercation escalated to a physical one and the stabbing ensued.

“The quick action of UFVRD RCMP led to the speedy arrest of Mr. Dolman, ensuring evidence was preserved and risk to the public was mitigated,” IHIT media relations officer Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said.

“The response from the public in providing information about this incident played a part in ensuring IHIT obtained charge approval. However, there may still be witnesses who have not spoken to police. We ask that those people contact IHIT investigators as soon as possible.”

The name of the victim hasn’t been released, but it was learned that he was well known to the criminal justice system, and it is believed he and Dolman knew one another.

Dolman has no criminal contacts, according to Court Services Online.

A closed Facebook group in the victim’s honour was set up just hours after the death.

Dolman appeared Wednesday before a justice of the peace and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear in provincial court at Chilliwack on May 9.

Meanwhile, a Facebook group called “Chilliwack defenders” has been created, apparently in response to a series of violent crimes in recent weeks. The group carries the description: “formed to try to help with a solution to the out of control crime in our city.”

In addition to the death Tuesday, there was a homicide in an apartment on Princess Avenue on April 18.

There was also a non-fatal stabbing in Salish Park on Monday, and there were reports of another stabbing Monday evening near Central Elementary school. Of the latter one, police confirmed only that an “incident” took place, said it is under investigation and it did not happen during school hours.

Anyone with information about the stabbing death can contact IHIT by telephone at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, or to remain anonymous contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit solvecrime.ca.

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